Gwynedd

Gwynedd's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in knowledge of the Welsh language, family life and marriage.

The population passed 120,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Gwynedd increased by 4.3%, from almost 117,000 to 122,000.

The addition of just over 5,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gwynedd was home to, on average, 0.34 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it Wales' third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd fell from 69% to 65% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

This was the third-largest decline in the proportion of Welsh speakers of any local authority area in the country. Of the few areas where knowledge of the Welsh language increased, Monmouthshire saw the largest change (from 9.0% to 9.9%).

There are 495 fewer people living in Gwynedd who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 5,484.

In nearby Conwy, 27% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 29% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More homes without children

This area saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook Powys and Denbighshire to become the Wales local authority area with the third-highest percentage of households without children.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66%) households in Gwynedd had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 25%.

Isle of Anglesey saw the next largest rise (from 61% to 64%).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More students

This area saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd said they were in education, compared with 2.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 42% to 45%.

The largest increase occurred in Ceredigion (from 3.9% to 6.2%).

The percentage of students in Gwynedd increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of married people fell in Gwynedd at a faster rate than in Lancaster, a statistically similar local authority area.

In Gwynedd, the proportion of married people decreased from 50% in 2001 to 44% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Lancaster decreased from 47% to 44%.

Across Wales, the share of married people decreased from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Gwynedd increased from 31% to 36%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Gwynedd residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Gwynedd residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to Conwy (from 12% in 2001 to 7.0% in 2011). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gwynedd decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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